Calligraphy Collection of the Oksan Branch of the Yeoju Yi Clan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.526-2

Category

Books & Records

Designated year

2006

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경상북도 경주시

Coordinates

36.016592, 129.159935

Yi Hwang was greatly moved by the books written by Yi Eon-jeok at the age of 27: Oecheonjam, Yangsimjam, Gyeongsinjam, Gaegwajam, and Dokjijam. With Yi Hwang unable to get over such strong impression of the books, Yi Jeon-in (1516-1568, pen-name: Jamgye), Yi Eon-jeok’s son, asked him to write the Original Five Admonitions. Such request by Yi Jeon-in can be inferred from Yi Hwang’s epilogue on page 10, even though the text does not say explicitly that he asked him to write it. Meanwhile, the words “huhak Yi Hwang geunseo” clearly remain at the end. This document is meaningful since it is a monumental text handwritten by Yi Hwang who elaborates on what he thought of Yi Eon-jeok’s academic achievements and ideas and how he was influenced by them. This document was written in haeseo style on wide mulberry paper, with six lines per page and sixteen 8cm-characters per line. The epilogue was written in haehaengseo style in 4 lines, with characters measuring less than 4cm. With its neat and pure writing style of a moralist that is far from being free, exaggerated or rough, it is one of Yi’s most representative posthumous works showing Yi Hwang’s typical writing style, which combines the elegant Songseol style and the firm and neat style of Wang Xizhi and his son as Kim Inhu mentioned in his farewell poem. ○ Four Mountains and Five Rocks: When Yi Eon-jeok was demoted after protesting the appointment of Yi An-ro in 1530, he returned to his hometown the next year and built detached houses including Dongnakdang House at the foot of Mt. Jaok. There, he named the scenery “Four mountains and Five Rocks,” which include Mt. Jaok, Yongchu, Gwiyeongdae Pavilion, Jingsimdae Pavilion, Sesimdae Pavilion, Takyeongdae Pavilion, and Gwaneodae Pavilion, and wrote these in large letters on a decorated scroll. Yi Jeon-in, son of Yi Eon-jeok, apparently received this calligraphy together with Yi Hwang’s “Original Five Admonitions.” Yi Hwang’s tablets written in large letters have been found in many places, including Yeongnak seojae at Dosanseowon Confucian Academy, Hujodang and Eupcheongjeong at the head house of Yeangong of the Andong Family of Gwangsan Kim’s clan, Wolchun seodang of Dosan, and Seonmongdae of Yecheon. Considering the fact that the engraved replica tablets do not include the entire original penmanship, the tablet of “Four Mountains and Five Rocks” at Dongnakdang House is valuable because it has been kept intact in its entirety.

Location